Bob van Asperen
Encyclopedia
Bob van Asperen is a harpsichordist
, organist
, conductor, clavichord
ist and early music-specialist.
After completing a conventional music course at university, in 1967 he studied under the harpsichord
master Gustav Leonhardt
. In 1968 he joined the group Quadro Hotteterre, of which he was a member until 1984. He completed his studies in 1972 with distinction after finishing a course in organ at the Amsterdam Conservatory
given by Albert de Klerk.
After finishing his studies, Bob van Asperen accepted a teaching post at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague
. He held this post until he was invited to replace the departing Gustav Leonhardt at the Sweelinck Conservatory
in Amsterdam, where he is now a professor of harpsichord
and basso continuo. He teaches at summer academies in Europe and Canada where his masterclasses attract students from all over the world.
A recognized specialist in the realm of performance on period keyboard instruments, his extensive knowledge of keyboard repertoire from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries is reflected in his wide-ranging concert programmes. In addition to concert engagements in Holland, foreign tours have included performances throughout Europe, the United States, Russia and Australia. His repertoire on harpsichord, organ, and clavichord is expansive and ranges from the music of John Bull
and Byrd
to that of Padre Antonio Soler
, and to Johann Sebastian Bach
and his sons. From time to time he also conducts baroque or modern orchestras.
Bob van Asperen has also been a member of the jury at several important harpsichord competitions such as those of Amsterdam, Paris, Nantes and Hamburg. His recordings have received much critical acclaim and awards, including the Edison Award, the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis
, the Cecilia Prize (Belgium) the Timbre d’Argent and the Diapason d’Or.
Bob van Asperen has recorded the entire works of Antonio Soler
on 12 CDs. He has also recorded the complete published keyboard output of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
and Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
. He has recorded many of J.S. Bach's solo keyboard works: The Well Tempered Clavier Books I and II, The Toccatas (BWV 910-916) and the Goldberg Variations
(BWV 988), and, with his former professor Gustav Leonhardt, the multiple keyboard concerti of Bach. Among other releases are J.S. Bach’s Harpsichord Concerti Volumes I and II with his group Melante Amsterdam which he directs from the harpsichord. Among the record labels that he has recorded for are EMI
, Sony
, Virgin
, Teldec
, Deutsche Harmonia Mundi
, N.M. Classics, and Astreé.
In the field of musicology
Bob van Asperen has prepared many editions and reconstructions of works by J.S. Bach (sonatas and concerti), and the Dutch composers Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
, Sybrandus van Noordt (the first Dutch harpsichord sonata, c1703), and Cornelis Thymenszoon Padbrué
, of which he made a reconstruction of the first Dutch oratorio
, the Tears of Peter and Paul, 1646 - on a text by the Dutch '"Prince of Poets" Joost van den Vondel
.
Harpsichordist
A harpsichordist is a person who plays the harpsichord.Many baroque composers played the harpsichord, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, George Frideric Handel, François Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau...
, organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, conductor, clavichord
Clavichord
The clavichord is a European stringed keyboard instrument known from the late Medieval, through the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical eras. Historically, it was widely used as a practice instrument and as an aid to composition, not being loud enough for larger performances. The clavichord produces...
ist and early music-specialist.
After completing a conventional music course at university, in 1967 he studied under the harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
master Gustav Leonhardt
Gustav Leonhardt
Gustav Leonhardt is a highly renowned Dutch keyboard player, conductor, musicologist, teacher and editor. Leonhardt has been a leading figure in the movement to perform music on period instruments...
. In 1968 he joined the group Quadro Hotteterre, of which he was a member until 1984. He completed his studies in 1972 with distinction after finishing a course in organ at the Amsterdam Conservatory
Conservatorium van Amsterdam
The Conservatorium van Amsterdam is a Dutch academy of music located in Amsterdam. This school is the music division of the Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, the city's vocational university of arts...
given by Albert de Klerk.
After finishing his studies, Bob van Asperen accepted a teaching post at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague
Royal Conservatory of The Hague
The Royal Conservatory of The Hague is a conservatorium of music, providing higher education in music and dance, it is located in The Hague, Netherlands.-The Conservatory:...
. He held this post until he was invited to replace the departing Gustav Leonhardt at the Sweelinck Conservatory
Conservatorium van Amsterdam
The Conservatorium van Amsterdam is a Dutch academy of music located in Amsterdam. This school is the music division of the Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, the city's vocational university of arts...
in Amsterdam, where he is now a professor of harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
and basso continuo. He teaches at summer academies in Europe and Canada where his masterclasses attract students from all over the world.
A recognized specialist in the realm of performance on period keyboard instruments, his extensive knowledge of keyboard repertoire from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries is reflected in his wide-ranging concert programmes. In addition to concert engagements in Holland, foreign tours have included performances throughout Europe, the United States, Russia and Australia. His repertoire on harpsichord, organ, and clavichord is expansive and ranges from the music of John Bull
John Bull (composer)
John Bull was an English composer, musician, and organ builder. He was a renowned keyboard performer of the virginalist school and most of his compositions were written for this medium.-Life:...
and Byrd
William Byrd
William Byrd was an English composer of the Renaissance. He wrote in many of the forms current in England at the time, including various types of sacred and secular polyphony, keyboard and consort music.-Provenance:Knowledge of Byrd's biography expanded in the late 20th century, thanks largely...
to that of Padre Antonio Soler
Antonio Soler
Antonio Francisco Javier José Soler Ramos, usually known as Padre Antonio Soler, known in Catalan as Antoni Soler i Ramos was a Spanish Catalan composer whose works span the late Baroque and early Classical music eras...
, and to Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
and his sons. From time to time he also conducts baroque or modern orchestras.
Bob van Asperen has also been a member of the jury at several important harpsichord competitions such as those of Amsterdam, Paris, Nantes and Hamburg. His recordings have received much critical acclaim and awards, including the Edison Award, the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis
Deutscher Schallplattenpreis
The Deutscher Schallplattenpreis was a prize that the Deutsche Phono-Akademie awarded from 1963 through 1992. Its successor is the ECHO prize....
, the Cecilia Prize (Belgium) the Timbre d’Argent and the Diapason d’Or.
Bob van Asperen has recorded the entire works of Antonio Soler
Antonio Soler
Antonio Francisco Javier José Soler Ramos, usually known as Padre Antonio Soler, known in Catalan as Antoni Soler i Ramos was a Spanish Catalan composer whose works span the late Baroque and early Classical music eras...
on 12 CDs. He has also recorded the complete published keyboard output of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
right|250pxCarl Philipp Emanuel Bach was a German Classical period musician and composer, the fifth child and second son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach...
and Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck was a Dutch composer, organist, and pedagogue whose work straddled the end of the Renaissance and beginning of the Baroque eras. He was among the first major keyboard composers of Europe, and his work as a teacher helped establish the north German organ...
. He has recorded many of J.S. Bach's solo keyboard works: The Well Tempered Clavier Books I and II, The Toccatas (BWV 910-916) and the Goldberg Variations
Goldberg Variations
The Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, is a work for harpsichord by Johann Sebastian Bach, consisting of an aria and a set of 30 variations. First published in 1741, the work is considered to be one of the most important examples of variation form...
(BWV 988), and, with his former professor Gustav Leonhardt, the multiple keyboard concerti of Bach. Among other releases are J.S. Bach’s Harpsichord Concerti Volumes I and II with his group Melante Amsterdam which he directs from the harpsichord. Among the record labels that he has recorded for are EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
, Virgin
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
, Teldec
Teldec
The Teldec is a German record label in Hamburg, Germany. Today the label is a property of Warner Music Group.-History:...
, Deutsche Harmonia Mundi
Harmonia Mundi
Harmonia Mundi is an independent music record label founded in 1958 by Bernard Coutaz in Arles . The Latin phrase means "world harmony"....
, N.M. Classics, and Astreé.
In the field of musicology
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
Bob van Asperen has prepared many editions and reconstructions of works by J.S. Bach (sonatas and concerti), and the Dutch composers Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck was a Dutch composer, organist, and pedagogue whose work straddled the end of the Renaissance and beginning of the Baroque eras. He was among the first major keyboard composers of Europe, and his work as a teacher helped establish the north German organ...
, Sybrandus van Noordt (the first Dutch harpsichord sonata, c1703), and Cornelis Thymenszoon Padbrué
Cornelis Thymenszoon Padbrué
-Life:Padbrué came from a musical family and entered the company of "stadsspeelluiden" in his native city of Haarlem, but was dismissed from civic service in 1635 as a result of a long-running quarrel. From then on he supported himself as a freelance musician, and little further of his life is...
, of which he made a reconstruction of the first Dutch oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
, the Tears of Peter and Paul, 1646 - on a text by the Dutch '"Prince of Poets" Joost van den Vondel
Joost van den Vondel
Joost van den Vondel was a Dutch writer and playwright. He is considered the most prominent Dutch poet and playwright of the 17th century. His plays are the ones from that period that are still most frequently performed, and his epic Joannes de Boetgezant , on the life of John the Baptist, has...
.
Recordings
- Albinoni: Four Oboe Concertos Op. 9, Nos. 2,5,8 & 11, EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Angel LP, 1981. With Han de VriesHan de VriesHan Samuel de Vries , is a Dutch oboist and is considered the doyen of the Dutch school of oboe playing.De Vries studied oboe with Jaap Stotijn at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and with his son Haakon Stotijn at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam. He won many prizes in his youth,...
on oboeOboeThe oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
. - Well-Tempered Clavier, Books 1 and 2, Virgin, Number:7243 5 61711, Recorded: 1989/1990, Release: 1999